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When Long was interviewed by police, he said that he had woken up in a bad mood, and when the cat approached him he smacked it out of the way.

When it hissed at him in response, he said he then threw it into the bath causing the appalling injuries, and he said he had not really thought about it at the time.

The 26-year-old defendant, of Middle Street, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a cat, by beating it at Yeovil on September 9 when he appeared before District Judge David Taylor.

He also admitted resisting a police constable in the execution of his duty on the same date, and a charge that he assaulted his partner by beating her on September 8.

Prosecutor Julyan Stephens said that the first incident occurred when Long argued with his partner at her home and he then lost his temper after she called him a "ket-head", with alleged reference to him taking ketamine.

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Mr Stephens said: "After they had taken the defendant away, the officers saw the injured cat in the bath and it was taken to a vet, who said it had suffered a blunt force trauma to the head.

"It was further examined and found to have a fracture to the skull and pelvis, two broken hips, its eyes were bleeding from internal haemorrhaging and the animal was unable to stand.

"The cat had either been hit with something or hit on something, which caused the significant injuries, and it was subsequently treated at a cost of £1,200."

In a statement made by the victim, which was read to the court, she said that she now had to take tablets to help her get to sleep, had to take time off work due to her anxiety, and had nearly lost her job as she had changed from her normal bubbly self.

She said: "I have lost a lot of weight which has been caused by all the stress and I still feel quite vulnerable.

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Probation officer Joe Harper said that Long, who was on benefits, said he had been arguing with his partner for a number of days after she had accused him of taking drugs after seeing text messages on his phone.

He said: "He takes full responsibility for the assault on his partner and is disgusted with his behaviour, saying he had previously been fond of the cat."

In sentencing Long, District Judge Taylor said that when he assaulted his partner he must have lashed out with considerable force to have caused the injury she sustained.

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He said: "The cat had done nothing to deserve your action and you deliberately struck it with such force that you caused a blunt force trauma, and then deliberately put the cat in the bath causing multiple injuries which required extensive operations.

"You demonstrated no remorse about it, and in fact you believed you had killed the cat and I find this was a deliberate action with high culpability and deliberate harm.

"These two matters together are so serious that only custody is appropriate."

He sent Long to prison for a total of 16 weeks and also banned him from keeping domestic animals for the next five years.

He also made a three-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his partner directly or indirectly or via social media and from going to her address in Yeovil.

No orders were made for compensation or costs but a £115 victim surcharge was imposed, which is payable upon the defendant’s release.

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